Blueprint of proposed lily pond at DeVeaux Hall drawn by T. Wiley

Blueprint of proposed lily pond at DeVeaux Hall drawn by T. Wiley, Apr. 1916.

Note regarding the phone tender from Newman Brothers for the lily pond

Note regarding the phone tender from Newman Brothers for the lily pond, n.d.

St. Catharines and District Council of Women fonds

The St. Catharines and District Council of Women was founded in 1918 and elected as its first president, Mary Malcolmson. In 1910 Mrs. Malcolmson founded North America’s first Girl Guide Association in St. Catharines. The aim of the organization was to work for the betterment of conditions pertaining to the family, community and state. The Council is an umbrella group for various women’s organizations in the area and functions at the provincial, national and international levels and is associated with the United Nations. In the early years the National Council brought in the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and started the Women’s Canadian Club. The St. Catharines Council initiated Child Welfare Centres in local churches that grew into the Well Baby Clinics. Women were encouraged to take political office and join committees with much success. In 1929, “Shop at Home��� exhibition became an annual event highlighting the services of local merchants. Money raised by the Council was donated to local charities and in 1930 the Council assisted the local Armenian community in building the first Armenian Church in Canada. In 1932 the Council started the Maternal Welfare programme in which Mothers’ Meetings were held weekly with various speakers from the Public Health Department. In 1975 to celebrate International Women’s Year and the 1976 Centennial of the City of St. Catharines, the group sponsored the book Women of Action, 1876-1976, written by two of its members, Lily M. Bell and Kathleen E. Bray. Some time after 1976 the name of the organization changed from St. Catharines Local Council of Women to St. Catharines and District Council of Women. Today the organization functions as an advocacy and educational group.

Letter to W.D. Woodruff from Langley and Rymer, Jobbers in Masonry, St. Catharines

Letter to W.D. Woodruff from Langley and Rymer, Jobbers in Masonry, St. Catharines regarding tenders for the proposed lily pond. This is accompanied by an envelope. May 9, 1916.

Letter to T. H. Wiley from J.J. Nichols and Sons, Mason Contractors and Plasterers, St. Catharines

Letter to T. H. Wiley from J.J. Nichols and Sons, Mason Contractors and Plasterers, St. Catharines regarding tenders for the proposed lily pond, May 12, 1916.

Letter to Mr. Welland D. Woodruff from Thos. Wiley, Architect, St. Catharines

Letter to Mr. Welland D. Woodruff from Thos. Wiley, Architect, St. Catharines regarding tenders for the proposed lily pond, May 17, 1916.